Almanac: At the Capitol

The House DFL unveils its bonding bill, House Democrats want to change the unemployment rate, and a Senate committee considers free fishing for people 90 and over.

View the Capitol Update for March 30, 2009.

Two projects in DFL Chair Alice Hausman's district don't even make it into her bill:  Como Zoo and Bell Museum.  Hausman said those "break her heart" but have been caught up in political rhetoric.  Most of the bill will be dedicated to asset preservation or repairs to colleges and universities.  She said the governor's office will not support the state's only natural history museum because he views it as overlap with the MN Zoo and Science Museum.  She said she had to say no to nearly $150 million worth of projects that are in the Senate's bill and a bill this small "is a horrible bill  to write."  This puts the House in between Gov. Pawlenty and Senate's numbers.

When it comes to flooding in the Red River Valley, this bill does not have any money specifically in it for that.  Hausman said you have to wait weeks or a month to see what public property was affected.  She says when the need is clear there will be a cooperative effort with the governor and Senate.  Right now there is $12.7 million for general flood mitigation across the state in the House bonding bill.

Update Tuesday:  The governor says he supports are "reasonable, impactful" bill that stimulates the economy.  He denied he's totally against the Bell Museum and said there was a mistunderstanding.  He will talk to the U president about what he said was "not a bad idea."  Overall he said "the House bonding bill is a step in the right direction."

The House DFL tax chair proposes a major overhaul to the system, rogue Republicans offer a budget different from the governor's, the Senate passes a bonding bill and Democrats push ahead on health care.

View the Capitol Update for March 16, 2009.

It's the meat and potatoes of politics:  bonding and budgeting.  Today the Senate passed a $365 million bonding bill.  Chair Keith Langseth said it will result in thousands of jobs.  Sen. David Hann said in this economy this isn't the time to borrow more money and raise taxes.  Langseth said you get more bang for your buck in these economic times.  The bill funds construction and renovations on things like:  Bell Museum at U, Volleyball Center in Rochester, high speed rail to Chicago, rail to North Shore, Union Depot transportation hub, Como Zoo, Big Lake ice arena, Orchestra Hall, Shubert Theater, St. Cloud Civic Center, Asian Pacific Cultural Center.

On the budget, House Republicans who the press has dubbed the "Emmerites" (followers of Rep. Emmer) came up with their own budget plan.  They said they balance the budget with no shifts, no gimmicks, no stimulus money and no tax increases.  As Republicans have criticized Democrats, we often ask them where is there budget plan? 

House Democrats sent around a blank sheet of paper last week entitled the Republican budget plan.  Today they have an answer.   The question is if it's a caucus answer or just the often noted splinter group--the Emmerites (has a nice biblical sound to it, huh?).  Reps. Buesgens, Brod, Zellers said you don't have to have a leadership title to lead.  So, it's not a caucus position and it's at odds with the governor because they don't agree with his idea to add money to education.  Now I've heard from these members that they don't like being called Emmerites, sorry, it's just a joke, no offense intended.  That's just the name the press has come up with for the splinter group of vocal House Republicans.  When you don't have your leader's backing and are defying the governor, I guess you get a nickname.

House Tax Chair Ann Lenczewski also came up with what she called the biggest tax reform in a quarter of a century.  It is revenue neutral.  It lowers the bottom two income tax tiers.  Eliminates business subsidies and loopholes, but cuts other business taxes.  She talked about using the deficit as an opportunity to make big changes that makes the tax system more fair and simple.

The love was everywhere. The love was bi-partisan. The love was coming from the governor to lawmakers, even DFL lawmakers. House Tax Chair Ann Lenczewski got an enormous amount of praise for helping making the whole end of session deal happen. Bonding Chairs Langseth and Hausman got humorous props too. Hausman who originally had her key project Central Corridor axed by the gov in the first bonding bill today said "we are celebrating and joyous." Of course the bonding bill creates the first new state park in 30 years, builds a new veterans home and starts a new transit line between the Twin Cities. Pawlenty noted that the "path was a little bumpy" on the bonding bill, but his strategy of line-item vetoes worked and many call it the turning point of the session.

Healthcare Chairs Huntley and Berglin (who could not attend) were also congratulated on a package that creates better affordability, quality and accessibility. Huntley said it was the most important bill in almost decades. The governor said it could create $7 billion in savings. It insures 12,000 more Minnesotans.

A couple of other notes from a fun and long news conference: Pawlenty joked that his vocal cords still had not fully recovered from his hockey injury. That could be an issue as he continues to stump for his friend John McCain, but his self-deprecating humor goes over well as always. He says he will likely veto the mortgage foreclosure bill that is sitting on his desk because it would make Minnesota "an island" and "drive up credit costs for the 89% of Minnesotans not in foreclosure." He will also line item money for California car standards from the budget bill because that policy language did not pass.